Pooey, Mischka, and myself braved the Shoppo carpark to watch Sherlock Holmes. Now, we three have been looking forward to this movie ever since...well...possibly since it was announced, and Mich and I had been holding off for Pooey to return to Melbs so we could watch it together. Now, I had been positively shocked shocked! to hear some people tell me that they had found Holmes disappointing! Like what?! And so with a bit of trepidation, I sat down and waited for the show to begin...
The movie kicks off with Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jnr.) and Dr. Watson (Jude Law) breaking in on an occult ceremony and rescuing a girl from certain death. They discover that the villian is Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). He is arrested, and all seems to be well in Holmes and Watson's world. But cut to a few months later and Holmes is not well. A borderline Asperger's sufferer, he's not handling the impending loss of his heterosexual life-partner - Watson is going to ask Mary (Kelly Reilly) to marry him and thus move out of 221B Baker St. For his part, Watson is bit tired of Holmes' quirks, and his obsessive, not to mention highly eccentric, behaviour. He intends to end their professional relationship by being the attendant doctor at Blackwood's hanging. Meanwhile, a woman from Holmes' past, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), comes onto the scene to hire Holmes to get something Blackwood was working on before he got arrested. But then Blackwood...COMES BACK TO LIFE!!! And so the case begins...
Now, this movie can be boiled down to one statement - THE ROBERT DOWNEY JNR. SHOW!!! Okay, and Jude Law as well. But really, RDJ plays the role with his usual twitch and scruffiness that conveys someone who functions at the very edge of acceptable behaviour, and only then when there's a goal that interests him. In short - RDJ :P. For his part, Jude Law has to play the straight man in comparison. The long-suffering companion who is ultimately understanding and forgiving of the other's foibles. That's not to say it's all a one-sided friendship. There are hints that Watson has his own demons (gambling) that Holmes is able to keep in check. The two characters and actors rub against each other so well - it's like the ultimate bromance. No wonder Holmes is scheming to break Watson and Mary up!
The plotting - I didn't think it was that transparent. Sure, I noted that we were given hints as to what was a significant item/action/event in order to solve the mystery, but don't spend the movie trying to figure out what's going on. We're given the payoff in the end. Also, I think the pacing of action-story-action-story was adequate. No boring bits (for me!). One of the main criticisms I'd heard was that the story had paranormal elements - the opposite of traditional Sherlock using logical deduction to solve the crime. Well. It is set in the late 19th century - the height of the Spiritualism (remember, Doyle believed in fairies), however Sherlock does ultimately use his observations and knowledge of science to debunk the mystical goings on.
Anyway, I think we three walked out with varying levels of satisfaction. Mischka was all *HELL YEAH!!! SEXIEST HOLMES EVAAAAHHHHH!!! I WANT MOAR!!!*. Pooey enjoyed it but felt a bit miffed that despite filming being done in her street, she didn't get to see her former front door. I was pleasantly satisfied.
I don't know what you people are talking about, but I found it enjoyable!
7/10
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